FAQs about the Human Trafficking Clinic (HTC) and the Human Trafficking Law Project (HTLP)

I am not a member of the Law School community; can I volunteer for HTC or HTLP?

Thank you for offering to assist our efforts. Unfortunately, given the nature of the services we provide at HTC and the research required for HTLP, we generally only have volunteer opportunities for individuals who possess a JD. Furthermore, our first priority is always to ensure we are accommodating the volunteer interests of members of the University of Michigan Law School community. Thus, we do have volunteer opportunities for practicing attorneys, but they are limited.

The only exception to the above statement applies to those who possess non-English language skills. There are instances when we need translation of a less-commonly spoken language and there is no one in the Law School community able to meet that need. If you are fluent in a language other than English and are interested in being a volunteer translator, please complete the Request Form.

I am researching human trafficking and wonder who I can talk to about the issue?

We are thankful that you are interested in learning more about the issue, but we are unable to respond to general research requests. The HTC is a functioning law office and we must ensure that we are dedicating our limited staff time to meeting the needs of our clients. Please visit Resources and Partnerships to find more information about human trafficking.

How do I apply to be a summer legal clerk for HTC?

Thank you for your interest. Every summer we hire approximately three to six summer clerks. Summer clerks provide direct representation to trafficking victims, advocate on behalf of trafficking survivors with government officials, and participate in community education and training. Clerks may also perform other policy and research tasks, such as review cases for HTLP. In most cases summer clerk positions are unfunded; however we are happy to support your efforts in securing external funding. In order to apply you must be enrolled in a JD or LLM program. We begin accepting applications for the upcoming summer on January 15th of every year. If you are interested in applying, please submit a resume and cover letter expressing your interest to sspring@umich.edu. Please write "Summer Employment Application" in the subject line of the email.

I am interested in applying for HTC but I have heard that it is really hard to get in; is this true?

No! This is a worrisome myth about the HTC. It is sometimes the case that applicants will not be selected the first semester they apply. However, it is almost always the case that applicants who submit thoughtful clinic applications for multiple semesters are admitted at some point during their Law School career.